Another fat target

In order to survive during times of food scarcity, animals have evolved to have slower metabolism, conserving energy until food becomes available again. While slowing of metabolism is useful for survival of the species, it makes it difficult for obese people in the modern age to lose weight.

A number of pathways for regulation of energy metabolism already are known, including those that involve leptin, and last week Eli Lilly and Co. reported on yet another potential site of intervention: ghrelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide hormone produced in the stomach...